An Essay on the Original of Literature

by Daniel Defoe, D.N. DeLuna (Editor), assisted by John Astin (Editor)

The young Daniel Defoe thought he was destined to become a Presbyterian minister. Instead he became a man of poet, political journalist, economic essayist, novelist. In his Essay on the Original of Literature of 1726, Defoe argues for the sacred Hebrew origins of modern writing--or, as he puts it, that "Power to make the Paper speak ." The work stands out as a writer's bold glorification of the craft of literature, radically understood.

88 pages, Hardcover

First published October 8, 2007

About the author

Daniel Defoe was an English novelist, journalist, merchant, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts, was often in trouble with the authorities, and spent a period in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted him.
Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works—books, pamphlets, and journals—on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism and economic journalism.